Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Paris is Painful August 28, 2023

By (Architecture, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/29/2022 to 12/16/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Independance.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I want to try again to survive in this environment, it was really difficult, but I know now how I could thrive.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

1 very difficult due to architectural materials as well as transit

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50 euros, I budgeted this well
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be rich

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 220?
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Make French friends

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Food
  • The City
* What could be improved?
  • Support
  • Financial Transparency
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive it would be

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Art Studio
Course Department: Architecture
Instructor: Forgot
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Challenging, also expensive
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

France/Afrique
Course Department: Politics
Instructor: Forgot
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Challenging, lots of reading
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Studio
Course Department: Architecture
Instructor:
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Challenging and expensive, I had to purchase hundreds of euros with of materials that would normally be provided at Middlebury.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

French
Course Department: French
Instructor:
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Solid course
Credit Transfer Issues: I was unable to register for a course at Middlebury this fall due to a lack of course options as well as transfer issues despite this being a course at Middlebury's campus in Paris.